Echoes of the past

Chapter 8: Echoes of the past.

After saying hello to Charlie and hearing about the old truck, Ethan decided to talk.

—What brings you here, Charlie? Ethan asked, trying to sound casual.

"Bella is going back to Forks," Charlie announced. But this time not just visiting. She's going to be staying with me for the next few years, and she wanted to see if they still had that old truck for sale

The mere name Bella was enough to unleash a torrent of memories in Ethan's mind. Last summer... the times when he and Bella had escaped into the woods together, sharing more than just conversations. Every look, every touch, everything came back to him in an instant. Back then, he thought things between them would be simpler, but now, a year later, everything had changed. Although he still liked her, he wasn't sure how he felt about her. What he once thought might be love felt more distant now, as if it belonged to another life, to a different Ethan.

Shaking himself from those thoughts, Ethan smiled at Charlie, though not as convinced.

~ ~ "I'm glad Bella is back," he responded, although his tone did not convey the certainty he would have liked. His hesitation was subtle, but it didn't go unnoticed by Jacob, who was standing nearby, watching silently

After several weeks working in his shop, Jacob was finally able to repair Charlie's old truck. had bought. After several repairs and improvements, she was like new. The next morning, Bella would arrive in Forks, and Jacob, along with his father Billy, would take the truck to Charlie's house.

Jacob, putting the finishing touches on the engine, turned to Ethan.

~ ~—So… are you coming to see Bella? —he asked, his tone neutral, but with a tinge of curiosity that betrayed his interest.

Ethan, who had been adjusting some tools, paused for a moment, staring at the truck.

—I don't think it's "A good idea," he finally answered, looking down. I don't want Bella to feel tied to what happened last summer. It was special, yes, but now it's better for both of us to put it behind us. I don't want anyone to get hurt.

The truth was more complicated. Although Bella still had a place in her heart, her mind was occupied by another person, someone who appeared in her thoughts with each passing day

Jacob frowned, but did not insist. He also had his own tangled feelings when it came to Bella. She had always been the girl he had liked for years, but he knew Bella didn't see it that way. And now, with her return, that little spark of hope inside him was starting to light up again, although he couldn't help but feel nervous every time he thought about her.

Bella's POV

Bella watched the rainy landscape of Forks through the window of his father's car. The monotonous sound of rain hitting the glass accompanied the whirlwind of emotions she felt upon returning to this place. Forks not only meant a new beginning, but it also brought with it memories of the past, especially that summer she spent with Ethan.

"What will it be like to see him again?" Bella wondered, feeling a mix of anxiety. and nostalgia. Memories of their times together in the forest were still fresh in her mind, and although she had decided to move to Forks to start over, a part of her couldn't help but wonder if those moments between them would mean something more now that they would be closer.~

~Upon arriving home, Bella and Charlie took a short tour of the house. The same familiar walls, the same tranquility of home, everything seemed the same, except for one thing: she would now live there, not just visiting.

A sound of an engine stopping outside caught her attention.

—It must be Billy," Charlie said, looking out the window.

The name made Bella's stomach do a flip. Not just for Billy, but for what it meant: the chance to see Ethan. "Will he be with them?" she asked herself, feeling a mixture of nerves and anticipation

However, as she left the house, her disappointment was evident. Ethan wasn't there. Only Jacob and Billy had arrived. The air of anticipation faded a little, though she tried not to show it

Billy and Charlie greeted each other with warm familiarity. While Jacob and Bella greeted each other, the two parents engaged in a brief friendly chat.

—So, how are things going on the reservation? —Charlie asked as Billy handed him the keys to the truck.

—Same old thing. Keeping everything in order, although Jacob is still a disaster with tools," Billy joked with a throaty laugh.

Charlie nodded, sharing a smile.

—Well, at least he has Ethan to help him, right ? —Charlie mentioned.

Billy sighed, looking at his son and then at Charlie.

—Yeah, those two are a good team. Although Ethan has been… busy lately. Age things, I guess," he said, with a slight hint in his tone, but without elaborating.

Charlie raised an eyebrow

"Ah, young people and their "things." Don't even talk to me. Bella's been on something since I picked her up at the airport. Maybe it's age.

They were both silent for a moment, sharing that kind of unspoken understanding that only parents could have, before refocusing on the truck and light conversation.

After From this exchange, Bella joked:

—And where is Ethan?

Billy smiled, although there was a tinge of understanding in his eyes.

—He's busy with some things in the village, but "He's glad you're back," he replied, though his tone indicated he knew more than he was letting on.

Bella's disappointment slowly dissipated as the day wore on. She and Jacob spent the next few hours catching up, laughing, and reminiscing about old times. They hadn't seen each other in two years, as Jacob left for summer camp last year, so there was a lot to talk about.

The next morning came. The sound of the alarm clock brought Bella out of her dreams. Today was her first day at the new school, and as she prepared to leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that something in her life was about to change irrevocably. What she didn't know was that she was about to be dragged into a world she couldn't even imagine.